Ford says it will invest nearly $200 million and 450 new jobs to the Cleveland Engine Plant to help support growing demand for the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine. The Cleveland Engine Plant currently has close to 1,300 employees. Pictured Raymond Williams. (Photo by Ford)

DEARBORN, MI – To meet rising consumer demand for the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine, Ford Motor Company says it will invest nearly $200 million and add 450 new jobs at its Cleveland (OH) Engine Plant.

“This is our One Ford plan at its best – giving customers the power of choice to decide which fuel-efficient engine is best tailored to their needs,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of The Americas. “Cleveland Engine Plant was the first to produce EcoBoost engines and will continue to be a cornerstone of Ford’s strategy to deliver affordable fuel economy for millions.”

The hiring builds on the creation of more than 8,100 salaried and hourly jobs in the U.S. last year, including 1,000 in-sourced hourly positions. Ford is more than halfway to its goal of creating 12,000 hourly jobs in the U.S. by 2015 to support new products and investment. Additionally, the company announced last month it plans to hire 2,200 salaried workers in the U.S. in 2013 to fill jobs in such key areas as Product Development, Manufacturing and IT.

Production of the 2.0-liter EcoBoost for North America is currently based in Valencia, Spain. The investment in Cleveland will shift North American production to Ohio, while Ford’s Valencia Engine Plant will remain the exclusive production location of the 2.0-liter EcoBoost for Ford of Europe-built vehicles. Valencia will continue to produce and ship parts for these engines to North America.

Overall employment at the Valencia plant will not be impacted. The Valencia Engine Plant will transfer some employees to Valencia Assembly Plant to support increased production for C-MAX, Kuga, Transit Connect and Tourneo Connect.

Ford is making the move to assemble engines regionally to help meet rising consumer demand for the award-winning 2.0-liter EcoBoost and to optimize production capabilities around the world.

Production of the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine will begin in North America in late 2014. Cleveland Engine Plant currently builds the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine and 3.7-liter V6. The Ohio facility employs approximately 1,300 people. It has built more than 500,000 3.5-liter EcoBoost engines since 2009.

EcoBoost is the cornerstone of Ford’s global engine strategy to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Ford will expand EcoBoost production to 1.6 million engines this year – nearly 100,000 above the previous target.

This year EcoBoost will be available on more than 90 percent of North American nameplates and by 2015, 95 percent of Ford nameplates will be available with EcoBoost engine technology. In 2013 Ford expects to sell more than 500,000 EcoBoost-equipped vehicles in the U.S. – a sizeable increase over the 334,364 EcoBoost vehicles sold in 2012.

The 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine to be built in Cleveland is currently available in the Ford Explorer, Edge, all-new Escape and all-new Fusion, Focus ST, Taurus and new Lincoln MKZ and MKT Livery. The engine has won a coveted Ward’s 10 Best Engines trophy each year it has been available in North America.